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. 2016;2(9):e218.

Role of Calpain in Pathogenesis of Human Disease Processes

Brittany A Potz  1 , M Ruhul Abid  1 , Frank W Sellke  1
Affiliations

Role of Calpain in Pathogenesis of Human Disease Processes

Brittany A Potz et al. J Nat Sci. 2016.

Abstract

Calpains are a 15-member class of calcium activated nonlysosomal neutral proteases which are involved in a broad range of cellular function. Calpains are usually localized to the cytosol and within mitochondria. Calpastatin is an endogenous protein that specifically binds to and inhibits calpain. Overactivation of calpain has been implicated in a number of disease processes of the brain, eyes, heart, lungs, pancreas, kidneys, vascular system and skeletal muscle. Therefore, calpain may serve as a potential therapeutic target for a wide variety of disease processes. This review briefly outlines the current literature regarding the involvement of calpain overactivation in the pathogenesis of almost every organ in the body.

Keywords: Calpain; Human Disease; Pathogenesis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Calpain Activation in Situations of Stress Leads to Organ Dysfunction
Situations of stress lead to increased calcium ion release causing over-activation of calpain. Calpain then acts to promote cellular apoptosis and degrade cytoskeletal structure resulting in organ dysfunction.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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